Major Expansion Set for Hungary’s Longest Secondary Road

Major Expansion Set for Hungary’s Longest Secondary Road

Planning Commences for Road 47 Expansion

The longest secondary road in Hungary, known as road 47, is set for expansion. This road, which runs through Tiszántúl, connecting the county capitals of Hajdú-Bihar, Békés, and Csongrád-Csanád, has long been subject to heavy traffic. With a length of 215 kilometers, road 47 is one of the busiest main roads in the country and serves as the primary freight traffic axis between Debrecen and Szeged.

The need for its expansion has been recognized for a long time, and according to recent planning announcements, it is now within reach. The planning tasks for the four-lane expansion of the 47 road are set to commence in two phases. The current 2×1 lane main road will be developed into a 2×2 lane road, a transformation aimed at easing the heavy traffic.

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Hungary’s Road Network: An Overview

Hungary’s road network is extensive and well-developed, serving as one of the most vital links for through traffic between Western and Central Europe to Southern and Eastern Europe. The country’s motorway network has been adequately developed and is still being expanded, with Budapest forming the center of the connection with various parts of the country. The radial system is clearly visible, with tangential highway connections largely lacking.

Motorways and expressways in Hungary are numbered with an ‘M’ prefix but are called an ‘autópálya’ or ‘autóút.’ These roads have been expanded considerably since the 1990s. For instance, the M3 now extends to Vásárosnamény and has branches to Miskolc and Debrecen. The M5 runs to the Serbian border, the M6 extends to Szekszárd and Pécs, and the M7 has now been completed to the border with Croatia.

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Secondary Road Network: A Vital Link

The secondary road network in Hungary, which includes road 47, consists of numerous main roads with a one, two, or three-digit number. These main roads serve all major centers of the country, and their quality is fair to good. Motorways have been built over new routes, so there is usually a parallel main road next to the motorway. Until 2008, through traffic to the east of Hungary still had to pass through the capital, but the completion of the eastern ring has made this superfluous.

With the planned expansion of road 47, the country aims to further improve its secondary road network. The transformation from a 2×1 lane road to a 2×2 lane road is expected to significantly ease the heavy traffic, particularly freight traffic, between Debrecen and Szeged. This expansion has been a long-standing need and the commencement of planning marks a significant step towards fulfilling this need.

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